348 FEATHERED GAME 



bunch of a dozen birds come hurrying in from 

 outside. They mean to pass by two hundred 

 yards away, but one duck sees the decoys, darts 

 from the main body, sets its wings and comes 

 with a rush. Another sees the first one and fol- 

 lows suit; then another, and another, until the 

 whole flock turns and comes in also. Just as 

 they are about to settle in the water some old 

 drake catches the glimmer of a gun-barrel, or 

 sees the gunner 's eyelids move, or hears his 

 heart beat, or merely takes alarm on general 

 principles and forthwith begins to back water 

 with his engines and then to climb for a higher 

 altitude. The rest hesitate, then as the gun- 

 ner rises, away in every direction like the burst- 

 ing of a bombshell, goes the flock of thoroughly 

 startled ducks, no two together. Choose your 

 birds quickly and aim well ! Put plenty of shot 

 into him or he will surely escape, for he is a 

 rugged little rustler. The air is full of whiz- 

 zing wings and merry whistlings, yet before one 

 can think twice they are only a memory and half 

 a mile away the stragglers are uniting again. 



Another collection of black specks out toward 

 the open sea begins to be heard making its mu- 

 sic, coming ever nearer and the noise growing 



